Pelargonium plant named ‘Duebezneoimp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duebezneoimp’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored and zoned leaves; freely flowering habit; large semi-double neon red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEBEZNEOIMP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duebezneoimp’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Koka, Oromia, Ethiopia and Rheinberg,Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorousZonal Geranium plants with dark-colored leaves and numerous largeattractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in 2011 in Koka, Oromia, Ethiopia of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number 60020, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium zonale identified as code number 88864, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany during the summer of 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since October, 2012, in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany has shown that the unique features ofthis new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duebezneoimp’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Duebezneoimp’ as a new and distinct ZonalGeranium plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored and zoned leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large semi-double neon red-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parenthave red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium zonale ‘Duecumbadero’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.23,805. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany,plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of‘Duecumbadero’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more upright than and        not as trailing as plants of ‘Duecumbadero’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had a less        distinct zonation pattern than leaves of plants of        ‘Duecumbadero’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Duebezneoimp’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C.and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and thedescription were taken. In the detailed description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duebezneoimp’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code number 60020, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale identified as code number 88864, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright plant habit;            uniformly rounded; densely foliated; moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about            five basal branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 37 cm.        -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 33 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 70 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 26.4 cm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Roughly reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 144B.        -   Zonation pattern.—Width: About 1.2 cm. Distance from leaf            margin: About 7 mm. Color: Darker than 137A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 6.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double type flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;            umbels displayed above the foliar plane on moderately strong            peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly            depending on position in the umbel.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit, about 30 flowers            developing per umbel and numerous flower umbels developing            per plant; at one time, about 205 flowers and flower buds            per plant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer until the            autumn; plants begin to flower about eight weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 6.3 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 6.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.2 cm by 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 8.4 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 52A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 50A; color does not            fade with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 50B; color does not fade with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: Typically about one. Length:            About 1.1 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening and fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 50A; color does not fade with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 50B; color does not fade with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 144B tinged with close to 179B.        -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 18.8 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly            upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 3 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B tinged with close to            179B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About eight. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color:            Close to N155A and N59C. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 39A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9.2 mm.            Stigma shape: Tapering. Stigma color: Close to 39A. Style            length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 157A. Ovary color:            Close to 144B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geranium plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named‘Duebezneoimp’ as illustrated and described.